GB2241472A

GB2241472A - An ink applying system for a printing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2241472A
Application number: GB9103082A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Schumacher; Ronald Nelson
Original assignee: WPC Machinery Corp
Current assignee: WPC Machinery Corp
Priority date: 1990-02-28
Filing date: 1991-02-14
Publication date: 1991-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 2011-02-14
Also published as: FR2658755A1; US5018444A; JP2858276B2; DE4106381A1; DE4106381C2; JPH0664153A; ITRM910132A0; ITRM910132A1; IT1244930B; FR2658755B1; GB2241472B; GB9103082D0

Description

1 1 2 AN INK APPLYING SYSTEM FOR A PRINTING APPARATUS The present

invention generally relates to a 4 system f or f eeding ink to a printing apparatus, and more 5 particularly relates to a system f or f eeding ink to a 6 printing apparatus of the type which applies ink to a print 7 medium that utilizes an inking cylinder which rotates at 8 high speed to apply successive impressions to the print 9 medium.

It has always been a problem of quality control 11 in the web printing industry to feed the correct amount of 12 ink to a printing unit so that the impression that is 13 printed has desired quality. This is determined by many 14 characteristics, depending upon the type of printing that 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 is being performed, the medium on which the printing is being done, the type of ink that is being applied, and the like. For example, letterpress and lithographic printing require relatively low viscosity inks, whereas flexographic printing utilize inks which have a high viscosity and typically dry very quickly.

The application of ink to the printing units has typically involved the metering of literally drops of ink to a roll or cylinder of a train of such rolls that result in an impression being printed on the print medium. Since one drop of ink may be sufficient to print several hundred, if not several thousand impressions, and since the amount of ink used is a function of the surf ace area of the actual printed indicia, a pressman must adjust the flow of ink to 1 1 1 accommodate the job that is being done. Another important 2 consideration known to those in the art, is that small 3 amounts of ink may be used in certain portions of the width 4 of the web, and larger amounts of ink may be used in other 5 areas, primarily because more surface area of text or 6 graphics may be printed In certain portions than others. 7 in most prior art metering systems, the ink has been gravity fed from a common manifold to a number of tubes or conduits, the ends of which are positioned along the width of the web to feed ink to the applicable roll. The pressman must therefore calibrate the metering of ink to accommodate these requirements.

8 9 10 11 12 13 However, even when properly calibrated, problems 14 are often experienced. one common problem is that when a new drop is applied to the applicable inking roll, the 16 first impressions nay be too dark because too much ink is 17 applied to the medium, and as the ink is depleted the 18 impressions will gradually begin to lighten until the next 19 drop is applied. Another problem is that the inking roll is usually rotating at a high rate of speed, so that when 21 the drop of ink is applied to it, at least a portion of the 22 ink may be thrown out, which creates clean up problems for 23 the press. Also, gravity fed ink metering systems often 24 become clogged, with the problem being aggravated by cer tain types of inks. which may either dry prematurely, or 26 because of their low viscosity.

27 The foregoing considerations are involved in most 28 types of printing units, and for that reason the present 29 invention is applicable to many types of printing units.

However, the present invention is particularly useful in 31 applying ink to a numbering unit or imprinting unit, which 32 may be positioned to print different text or numbers on 33 different parts of the web being printing. For example, an 34 advertising brochure may be printed showing the sale items for a certain time frame, and it may be distributed over a 36 wide geographical area. An imprinter may be used to print 37 the name and address of a local establishment, and the bro 38 chures having that establishment's name and address may 1 0 1 comprise a very small portion of the total run of such brochures, with other establishments' names and addresses being printed on the remainder of the brochures. Similarly, numbers may be printed on sweepstakes type materials or the like.

Such imprintert and numbering units may have a ductor wheel which applies ink to a transfer cylinder by 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 being moved into and out of contact with the transfer 9 10 11 12 13 14 is 16 17 is 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 cylinder on a periodic basis during a printing operation. While the use of a ductor wheel may reduce the problem of throwing out ink that is dropped onto it, it is not completely eliminated, because when the ductor wheel is brought into contact with the transfer cylinder, some degree of throw-out may occur.

It is an object of the present invention to substantially eliminate the foregoing problems that are associated with ink supplying mechanisms.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ink supplying system for a printing unit, which system supplies ink in a forced manner rather than by gravity, and which can be precisely calibrated to provide ink at a controlled rate to certain portions of the width of the web, and to apply the ink to the transfer cylinder in a controlled manner whereby too much ink is not provided at one time so as to result in too dark of an impression.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such an Improved ink supplying system which accomplishes the foregoing objects by utilizing a processing ineans based programmable controller which is programmable to control the pumping of a precise quantity of ink to a ductor wheel, and which controls the movement of the ductor wheel into and out of contact with the transfer cylinder at precisely controlled and programmable intervals.

Yet another object of the present invention lies in the provision of utilizing an absorbent medium adjacent the ductor wheel which controls the flow of ink that is 1 1 X 1 applied to the ductor wheel in a manner which substantially 2 eliminates the problem of throw-out of the ink.

3 These and other objects will become apparent upon 4 reading the following detailed description of the present invention, while referring to the attached drawings, in 6 which:

FIGURE 1.4s a side view, partially in section, of portions of the apparatus of the present invention, particularly illustrating the ductor wheel and associated structure, and the ink pumping means; and, 11 FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a portion of 12 the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, and is taken generally 13 along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1; and, 14 FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the programmable controller and its interconnection with the 16 apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

8 9 10 17 Detailed Description is Broadly stated, the present invention is directed 19 to an ink supply system that is operable to precisely pro vide ink to a transfer roll by means of positively pumping 21 ink to an absorbent medium adjacent to a ductor wheel at a 22 programmably controlled rate and to bring the ductor wheel 23 into and out of contact with a transfer cylinder also at a 24 programmably controlled rate. The design and operation of the system substantially eliminates the problems that have 26 often occurred in prior art systems, including the problem

27 of the ink being thrown out when it is dropped onto a 28 cylinder rotating at high speed, the problem of relying on 29 gravity to control the rate of flow of ink to such rolls, and the problem of accurately adjusting the metering of ink 31 that is supplied by the system.

32 While the system disclosed herein is particularly 33 adapted for use in numbering or imprinting printing units, 34 where a relatively small width of the web is printed, it has a much wider scope of application, in that it could be 36 made wider, or a number of narrow units could be combined 37 to apply ink to a wider area along the width of the web.

0 1 In fact, an entire width of a web could be effectively 2 covered by combining a large number of such supply systems, 3 which could be controlled by a single programmable con4 troller, with the segments covered by individual systems 5 being programmed to have the correct amount of ink supplied 6 to print the desired text or graphic material. To this 7 end, it is contemplated thot systems that would be adjacent one another along the width of the web would be radially displaced so that the end of one ductor wheel would cover 8 9 10 an inking area that would actually abut the area covered by 11 the next ductor wheel. Since the diameter of the transfer 12 cylinder is relatively large compared to the diameters of 13 the ductor wheels, such radial offsetting is a practical 14 manner in which such a number of systems could be imple15 mented. It should also be appreciated that the system is 16 applicable for many types of printing, and could be employ17 ed to supply inks that have the characteristics necessary 18 to perform letterpress printing and lithographic printing, 19 among other types.

Turning now to the drawings, and particularly 21 FIGS. 1 and 2, the system includes one or more apparatus, 22 indicated generally at 10, each of which is mounted on a 23 mounting bar 12 in a manner whereby the apparatus can be 24 moved along the length of it to position the same as 25 required for the printing job being done. In this regard, 26 there may be several apparatus 10 such as the one apparatus 27 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, positioned along the width of a web 28 being printed, and the mounting bar is provided to prefer29 ably span the entire width of the web being printed. It is 30 contemplated that a single programmable controller 14 (see 31 FIG. 3) will be sufficient to control the operation of a 32 relatively large number of such units. To this end, even 33 if a 38 inch wide web printing press were employed, ap34 proximately 19 of such units would be positioned along two 35 mounting bars 12, and a single controller would be able to 36 control all of such units, because they merely control the 37 operation of solenoid valves for moving the ductor wheels 38 into and out of contact with the transfer cylinder in a 1 sequence that is a function of the count of the number of 2 rotations of the impression cylinder, and control the 3 operation of the pumping means, which essentially also only 4 involves similar count sequencing.

The apparatus 10 includes a bracket 16 that has 6 a U-shaped portion 18 that is slightly larger than the 7 cross sectional size of the mounting bar 12 so that it can 8 be moved along the longitudinal direction of the mounting 9 bar 12, and can be locked into the desired position by 10 tightened a knob 20 that has an integral threaded portion 11 22, the other end of which is recessed into a plate 24 that 12 bears against the mounting bar 12. The threaded portion 13 interacts with threads of an aperture 26, so that when the 14 knob 20 is rotated, it moves vertically to frictional 15 engage the mounting bar 12. When the knob 20 is loosened, 16 the apparatus 10 can be moved along the mounting bar and 17 then be secured by tightening the knob 20.

is In accordance with an important aspect of the 19 present invention, the apparatus 10 includes a ductor wheel 28 that is rotatably journaled in a pair of side brackets 21 30 and 32 by a bolt 34. The ductor wheel 28 may have an 22 outside diameter of approximately three inches and a com 23 parable width. The side brackets are attached to a verti 24 cal extension 36 in a ball joint mounting that includes a cylindrical sleeve 38 and an encompassing spherical socket 26 40 into which a ball 42 of complimentary diameter is fitted 27 for universal movement therein. The ball 42 has an aper 28 ture 44 through which a bolt 46 passes, with the bolt is 29 secured by a nut 48. Alternatively, the bolt 46 may engage a threaded aperture in the side bracket 30. The ball joint 31 permits the ductor wheel to contact a transfer cylinder 50 32 with uniform pressure when the ductor wheel 28 is moved 33 into contact with the cylinder 50.

34 To move the ductor wheel 28 into and out of contact with the transfer cylinder 50, an air actuated 36 cylinder 52 having a moveable piston 54 is provided, with 37 the cylinder 52 being connected to a lower extension 56 of 38 the bracket 16. The moveable piston 54 is connected to a 1 ball 55 that is connected to a cross member 58 that is 2 attached to the lower portion of each of the side brackets 3 30 and 32, so that when the cylinder is actuated to extend 4 the piston, the ductor wheel 28 is urged into contact with the transfer cylinder 50, and when the piston is retracted, 6 the ductor wheel 28 is moved out of contact therewith. The 7 ball 55 is loosely held captive In a slot within the cross a member so that the ductor wheel Is free to move about an 9 axis that extends from the upper ball 42 to the lower ball 55, and thereby assure uniform contact by the ductor wheel 11 28 and the transfer cylinder 50. The cylinder 52 has a 12 fitting 60 to which an air line 62 is attached, with the 13 air line being connected to a solenoid valve 64 that is 14 controlled by the programmable controller 14, and is also connected to a source of fluid pressure 66, which is 16 preferably a source of positive air pressure, although 17 liquid and other gaseous fluids may be used.

18 in accordance with another important aspect of 19 the present invention, the ink is supplied to the ductor 20 wheel 28 by means of an ink pumping means 68 which is 21 driven by air pressure supplied by the source 66. The 22 pumping means 68 has an internal moveable piston that is 23 moved downwardly when positive air pressure is applied to 24 a port 70 via line 72, and is moved up when positive air 25 pressure is applied to a port 74 through a line 76. The 26 pumping means 68 is preferably an air operated ejector, 27 Model 83664, series B, as manufactured by the Lincoln 28 Company, One Lincoln Way, St. Louis, Missouri 63120, 29 although other pumping means way be used. A particular 30 advantage of this pumping means Is that in the event of a 31 failure, the failure does not result in a flooding of ink 32 in the press, which is a problem of conventional gravity 33 fed metering systems of the prior art. Both lines 72 and 34 76 are connected to a solenoid valve 78 that is controlled 35 by the controller 14 and the solenoid valve is connected to 36 the source of air pressure 66. Ink is supplied to the 37 pumping means 68 by a flexible conduit or tubing 80 that is 38 conventionally connected to a port 82 in the pumping means t 1 68 from a manifold 84 that preferably extends across the 2 width of the web and is adapted to supply ink to as many 3 apparatus 10 as are provided. The manifold is supplied 4 with ink from a flexible conduit 86 connected to a pump 88 that is located on a supply of ink go, which may be a 5 6 gallon pail, a 55 gallon drum, or a larger supply.

7 The pumping means 68 has its piston adapted to 8 move through its strokeland force a metered amount of ink 9 from an ink outlet port 92 into a flexible tubing 94 which extends to a fitting 96 connected to a reservoir, indicated 11 generally at 98, immediately adjacent the ductor wheel.

12 The reservoir 98 comprises a preferably metal arcuate mem 13 ber 100 having side lips 102, which member 100 extends as 14 shown from an approximate 113 o'clock" position to a 117 otclock11 position, when in the position shown in FIG. 1.

16 The side lips 102 are slightly outside, but generally co 17 extensive with the outer edges of the ductor wheel so that 18 the ductor wheel does not contact the side lips. A thin 19 layer, preferably of felt, but which can be some other absorbent material, and preferably approximately 1/8th inch 21 in thickness, is located inside of the member 100 is close 22 proximity to the surface of the ductor wheel 28, in posi 23 tion to present ink to the ductor wheel when it rotates.

24 In this regard, the felt will expand slightly when it is charged with ink and the ink will migrate to the surface of 26 the felt where it contacts the rubber surface of the ductor 27 wheel 28. The felt layer should fit within the arcuate 28 member 100 such that the felt layer spans the entire width 29 of the ductor wheel. The initial thickness of the felt is not critical and may be slightly thicker than the preferred 31 1/8th inch. However, when the ductor wheel contacts the 32 felt during rotation, it will wear off whatever felt is in 33 contact with the rubber surface, and will quickly reach the 34 appropriate close clearance as is desired. It is also pre ferred that the felt extend around the left end of the mem 36 ber 100 (upstream relative to the direction of rotation of 37 the ductor wheel as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1) and 38 be attached to the outside of the member loo as shown at 3 1 104.

2 The pumping means 68 has an integral mounting 3 bracket 106 that is modified to have a right angled portion 4 108, with suitable apertures adapted to receive mounting bolts 110 that secure the pumping means 68 to a plate 112 6 that is bolted to the bracket 16 by screws 114.

7 During operation, the amount of ink that is 8 pumped by the pumping means is a function of many condi9 tions, including the type of ink, the speed of operation of 10 the printing press, the surface area of the text and/or 11 graphics that is being printed per revolution of the 12 transfer cylinder. Reinking is also a function of the 13 duration of the time in which the ductor wheel 28 is main14 tained in contact with the transfer cylinder 50, commonly 15 referred to as the dwell time, which in turn is a function 16 of the speed of the press.

17 While the amount of ink to be pumped can vary 18 substantially depending upon the above named considera 19 tions, it is not uncommon for the pumping means to pump a single drop of ink into the felt every 15 minutes, and the 21 ductor wheel to be moved into contact with the transfer 22 cylinder for a period sufficient to contact the cylinder 23 during only a few revolutions, with this occurring perhaps 24 once per minute.

To control the pumping means 68 and the cylinder 26 52, the programmable controller 14 is provided. In the 27 illustrated embodiment, it is an Atcom 64, as manufactured 28 by the Automatic Timing Controls Company of King of 29 Prussia, Pennsylvania, but another suitable microprocessor based controller may be provided, the functionality of the 31 controller being relatively simple in that it primarily 32 controls solenoid valves in specified sequences as a func 33 tion of counters that are clocked by some cylinder or com 34 ponent that is proportional to the operating speed of the press. The Atcom 64 is capable of controlling up to four 36 teen of the apparatus 10.

37 The controller is connected to a proximity sensor 38 116 that is adapted to monitor the speed of the press In a 1 conventional manner. This can be located in proximity to 2 one of the primary cylinders 118 (diagrammatically shown in 3 FIG. 3) of the printing press so that there is a known rela 4 tionship of the speed of the press and the revolutions made by the transfer cylinder 50. The operator in setting up 6 the unit on which the system of the present invention is 7. being used can set the frequency, in terms of the number of 8 press revolutions, of operation of the pumping means 68.

9 The pumping means 68 also has an internal adjustment that permits variation in the quantity of ink that is pumped 11 during each stroke of its internal piston, but in the 12 preferred Lincoln pumping unit, the amount of variation can 13 be generally characterized as changing the volume of a 14 single drop.

The operator can also set the duration of the 16 period in which the ductor wheel 28 is maintained in con17 tact with the transfer cylinder 50, in terms of press 18 revolutions, as well as the period between successive con19 tacts, also in terms of press revolutions. As previously 20 mentioned, this may equate to moving the ductor wheel into 21 contact with the transfer cylinder for only a few revolu22 tions every minute. The controller also has a timing over23 ride capability in that if the press stops while a ductor 24 wheel is in contact with the transfer cylinder, the timer 25 will cause the controller to drop out the cylinder 52 to 26 move the ductor out of contact with the transfer cylinder. 27 It is also preferred that the controller have a separate 28 "flood" pushbutton or switch, which when actuated, results 29 in the pumping means 68 operating for one stroke to deliver 30 a drop of ink to the reservoir 98 immediately. This is a 31 manual override that does not interfere with the normal 32 timing sequences, and is provided if it is noticed that 33 more ink is needed, or during start-up.

34 While the specific commands are not included herein, for they are straight forward and carry out the 36 operations previously described. Broadly stated, the 37 proximity sensors detect press revolutions and update 38 internal counters. The controller monitors the count in i 1 such counters, so that when a predetermined count is 2 reached, the controller provides a signal to the appropri 3 ate solenoids 64 and 78 to cause the pumping means 68 and 4 cylinder 52 to operate for the appropriate time. In this regard the cylinder 52 is actuated for a period determined 6 by the number of press revolutions, both in terms of the 7 time it maintains the ductor wheel 28 in contact with the 8 transfer cylinder 50 and the time it is out of contact.

9 The pumping means 68 is actuated at time intervals that correspond to the press speed, but the amount of time that 11 air is admitted to cause its internal piston to move is f or 12 a short period of time, for example, 0.8 seconds, that is 13 independent of press speed.

14 While various embodiments of the present inven tion have been shown and described, it should be understood 16 that various alternatives, substitutions and equivalents 17 can be used, and the present invention should only be 18 limited by the claims and equivalents thereof.

19 Various features of the present invention are set 20 forth in the following claims.

i i

Claims

CLAIMS 1 Claim 1. A system for providing ink from an 2 external source of ink to a printing unit of the type which 3 has a printing cylinder adapted to print on at least a 4 portion of the width of a web that is carried through the.5 unit, the.unit also being of the type which has at least 6 one transfer cylinder for transferring ink to the printing 7 cylinder the system comprising: 8 an ink applying means having a rotatable cylin9 drically shaped ductor wheel that is carried by a side 10 bracket means which is attached to a main bracket means, 11 said side bracket means being pivotable relative to said 12 main bracket means, said side bracket means being select13 ively moveable to move said ductor wheel into and out of 14 contact with the transfer cylinder, said ink applying means 15 having a reservoir located in close proximity to the ductor 16 wheel and adapted to receive ink and apply the same to the 17 outer surface of the ductor wheel; is means for selectively moving said ductor wheel 19 into and out of contact with the transfer cylinder in response to signals received from a controller means; 21 means for positively pumping a metered amount of 22 ink to said reservoir of said ductor wheel in response to 23 signals received from a controller means; 24 means for sensing the operating speed of the printing unit and for providing signals to a controller 26 means that are indicative of the operating speed; and, 27 programmable controller means operatively con 28 nected to said moving means, said pumping means and to said 29 press speed sensing means, said controller means being adapted to provide signals to said moving means to selec 31 tively move said ductor wheel into and out of contact with 32 said transfer cylinder and to said pumping means to pump 33 ink to said reservoir in accordance with preselected 34 sequences that are a function of said press speed sensing means and time.

1 Claim

2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said ductor wheel has a rubber covering around the outer 4 0 3 periphery thereof adapted to receive ink for application to 4 the transfer cylinder.

Claim 3. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein 2 said reservoir comprises an arcuate member positioned adja3 cent the ductor wheel and a layer of ink absorbent material

4 located intermediate the outer.surface of the ductor wheel

5 and the arcuate member, with the surface of the absorbent

6 material being In close proximity to the surface of the 7 ductor wheel whereby ink pumped into the reservoir will 8 migrate to the surface of the material and be in position 9 to be applied to the surface of the ductor wheel.

1 Claim 4. A system as defined in claim 3 wherein 2 said absorbent material is felt.

1 Claim 5. A system as defined in claim 3 wherein 2 said layer of absorbent material being generally coexten 3 sive with said arcuate member and extending beyond the 4 upstream end of the member and attached to the outside of the member.

1 Claim 6. A system as defined in claim 5 wherein 2 said arcuate member has side lips on opposite sides thereof 3 adapted to retain the sides of said absorbent material, 4 said side lips being generally coextensive with the outer edges of said ductor wheel.

Claim 7. A system as defined in claim 3 wherein 2 said arcuate member extends through a radial arc that is at 3 least approximately one quarter of the circumference of the 4 ductor wheel.

1 Claim

8. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein 2 said moving means comprises a solenoid valve connected to 3 an external source of positive fluid pressure and a fluid 4 driven cylinder with a selectively extendable and retract able piston, said piston being connected to said side 6 bracket means, said cylinder being connected to said main 7 bracket means, so that extension of said piston moves said 8 ductor wheel toward contact of the ductor wheel and the 9 transfer cylinder.

1 Claim J91. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein 2 said fluid driven cylinder is an air driven cylinder and 3 said source of positive fluid pressure is a source of posi4 tive air pressure.

1 Claim 10. A system as defined in claim a wherein 2 said pumping means includes a solenoid v alve connected to 3 an external source of positive fluid pressure and a fluid 4 operated cylinder having an ink input port, an ink output Port,, and at least one actuating port, gaid cylinder having 6 an internal piston that is moveable through a predetermined 7 stroke to force a metered amount of ink located within a 8 cylindrical chamber to said ink output port when fluid 9 pressure is applied to said actuating port, and a flexible conduit for carrying the ink from said ink output port to 11 said reservoir of said ink applying means.

1 plain 11. A system as defined in claim 10 wherein 2 said pumping means further includes a supply of ink, a 3 source pump associated with the supply, and conduit means 4 for carrying said ink to said ink input port.

1 Claim 12,. A system as defined in claim 10 wherein 2 said system includes an elongated mounting bar connected to 3 the structure of the printing unit and extending substan 4 tially across the width of the web, said main bracket means being adapted to be mounted to said mounting bar and be 6 moved along the length thereof so as to selectively posi 7 tion the same along the width of the web.

1 Claim 13. A system as defined in claim 12 wherein 2 said pumping means cylinder and said moving means cylinder 3 are connected to said main bracket means.

1 Claim 14. A system as defined in claim 1 further 2 including a proximity sensing means operably connected to 3 said controller means, said sensing means being located 4 adjacent the printing unit and adapted to sense the speed of operation of the printing unit and generate signals that 6 are indicative of such speed.

1 2 3 1 Claim IS. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the diameter of said ductor wheel approximates the width thereof.

Clain 16. A system for providing ink from an 2 external source of ink to a printing unit of the type which 1 -is- has a printing cylinder adapted to print on at least a portion of the width of a web that is carried through the unit, the unit also being of the type which has at least one transfer cylinder for transferring ink to the printing cylinder, the system comprising: at least one ink applying means having a rotatable cylindrically shaped ductor wheel that is carrie d by a side bracket means which is attached to a main bracket means, said side bracket means being pivotable relative to said main bracket means, said side bracket means being selectively moveable to move said ductor wheel into and out of contact with the transfer cylinder, said ink applying means having a reservoir located in close proximity to the ductor wheel and adapted to receive ink and apply the same to the outer surface of the ductor wheel; means for each ink applying means for selectively moving said ductor wheel into and out of contact with the transfer cylinder in response to signals received from a controller means; means for each ink applying means for positively pumping a metered amount of ink to said reservoir of said ductor wheel in response to signals received from a controller means; 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 is 16 17 is 19 21 22 23 24 26 means for sensing the operating speed of the 27 printing unit and for providing signals to a controller 28 means that are indicative of the operating speed; and, 29 prograle controller means operatively con nected to each said moving means, each said pumping means 31 and to said press speed sensing means, said controller 32 means being adapted to provide signals to each said moving 33 means to selectively move said associated ductor wheel into 34 and out of contact with said transfer cylinder and to said associated pumping means to pump ink to said associated 36 reservoir in accordance with preselected sequences that are 37 a function of said press speed sensing means and time.

1 Claim 12. A system as defined in claim 16 wherein 2 said system includes an elongated mounting bar connected to 3 the structure of the printing unit and extending substan- I- X 4 tially across the width of the web, said main bracket means 5 being adapted to be mounted to said mounting bar and be 6 moved along the length thereof so as to selectively posi7 tion the same along the width of the web.

1 Claim 18. A system as def ined in claim 17 includ 2 ing a plurality of said ink applying means positioned along 3 said mounting bar for applying ink to respective portions 4 of the web of the printing unit.

Published 1991 at The Patent Office. Concept House. Cardiff Road. Newport. Gwent NP9 I RH. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point. Cw-mfelinfach. Cross Keys. Ne,.iport. NP1 7liz. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd. St Mary Cray. Rent-